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Greenhouse Effect Gizmo

By Stephanie Berryman
Last updated about 1 year ago
15 Questions
Note from the author:
Go through Clever and launch Gizmo, click on your hour, then launch the Greenhouse Effect Gizmo. You will need 2 tabs open.
Go through Clever and launch Gizmo, click on your hour, then launch the Greenhouse Effect Gizmo. You will need 2 tabs open.

What do you notice when you get into a car that has been sitting in the Sun for awhile?

Why is the inside of the car so hot?


How would things be different if the car's windows were left open?


Click Play and view the BAR CHART tab. The temperature will go up and down every day, but try to look at the overall trend. What happens to the temperature over time?

Now set the Greenhouse gases to 100% and let the simulation run for a while. How does a maximum amount of greenhouse gas affect the temperature?

Question: How do greenhouse gases affect Earth’s climate? 1. Observe: Select the BAR CHART tab and click Play. After about 24 simulated hours, click Pause (ll). What do you notice about the heat flow into and out of Earth’s atmosphere?

At what time of day is heat flow into the atmosphere (Hin) greatest?

At what time of day is heat flow into the atmosphere (Hin) least?

Does heat flow out of the atmosphere (Hout) change during a day?

At what time of day is surface temperature highest? and Lowest?

Predict: Click Reset. When you change the amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which factor(s) do you expect to change? (Click your answer/answers.)

Experiment: Select the BAR CHART tab, and click Play. While the simulation is playing, move the Greenhouse gases slider back and forth. What do you notice?

: Click Play, and this time observe the GRAPH tab as you change the Greenhouse gases. What do you notice?

The influence of greenhouse gases on temperature is called the greenhouse effect. Based on what you have seen, how do greenhouse gases affect the heat flow into and out of Earth’s atmosphere?


: Atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide have risen dramatically over the past century. Most scientists agree that this has begun to result in global warming, a slow increase in average temperature worldwide. What are the possible consequences of global warming? Select all that apply (4)